Massey plows (ploughs)

Several recent posts in the Wallis Tractors thread referred to M-H plows, ploughing matches, etc. I thought a new thread on the topic might provide some interesting discussion about plows, technique, competition, and pictures.

RE:Massey plows (ploughs)

Hi
That looks a really nice outft that you have there. Were you plowing in a competion there? You seem to have longer Lands over there than we do here. (We call the distance from one end to the other Lands over here for some reason).

I have been plowing most weekends since the begining of September with a MF 65 and Ransomes TS 63E. I don't expect you have Ransomes Plows. They were made locally here in East Anglia.

The M-H #26 Plow I bought in Ontario about five years ago. It has #23A bottoms on it. It is a nice Plow but I haven't plowed in any competions with it.

By the way the picture of the MF65 and me holding the cup wasn't won by me for plowing but by the tractor and plow for being the best turned out at the match.

RE:Massey plows (ploughs)

Alan,
You're right about the Ransomes plows - They seem to be very scarce here in the Midwest. A guy brought a Ransomes pull-type several years ago, but wasn't able to get it sorted out enough to be competitive. There are very few 3 pt mounted plows that compete in this match, and Massey plows are well represented. Were the 2 other pictures of your competition's equipment or yours? The M-H 26's look like one I recently picked up in Ontario as well.

The pictures in the first post were taken at a local annual match that has been running since 1895. Proud to say that my great grandfather, an immigrant from Wales, hosted the first one on his farm. The rules are the same as they used back then with horse drawn equipment. Unfortunately the prize money has stayed just about the same as well!

Our lands are set up to be about 137 meters (150 yards) long. Believe me, it looks like a long way from the start point on that first round! Presently, only 2 bottom plows are allowed, with 12" frames plowing 7 full rounds and 14" frames plowing 6 full rounds. We get 3 hours to complete the land, with most competitors taking about 2-2.5 hours. Usually the slower the ground speed, the better.

The picture below is a M-H 26 that has been retrofitted with Kverneland boards. A very competitive combination.

RE:Massey plows (ploughs)

Hi
That #26 with Kverrnland Boards looks a mean beast.

The #26 in the last pics that I sent is behind my 44 Diesel and 333 on a bit of land that we have. I was just playing.The plow plows very well. i should take it to a competion but I haven't done so yet..In 2011 we were out in Ontario to the IPM. A lot of the guys there were using #26's. The land that they were plowing seemed to me to be very sticky with large stones in it as well as a lot of trash on the surface. It would worry us over here if we had to plow in those conditions.

I would say if there were 40 tractors plowing in a competion there might be 7 or 8 pull type plows competing over here.

You must be very proud to be competing in a match that your Great Grandfather started. We plow with two furrow plows that are mostly 10" wide with a few 12" wide.

When we start we do what we call in Norfolk a split. Turn two furrows away from each other. We then turn them back in and call that a Top.We then plow round twice more to make six furrows. We then "Cast" to the competitor in the next plot with the next higher number than ours. We then plow that out but the last time across the plot must be turned towards our Top. If any of that makes sense. We get four hours to complete our plots. We must be slower. too much talking!!!!

RE:Massey plows (ploughs)

I have to say that these plow contests, the rules, and the condition of the overturned soil which is considered "good" is still a bit foreign to me. When I was growing up, we plowed (ploughed) everything in the spring. The best plowing job for us was one from which you could barely detect the different bottoms/furrows of the plow. It was laid over smooth, even, and well broken-up, requiring very little extra preparation for planting. I'm afraid I would dread heading into a field with those well defined and distinct, slowly overturned furrows, and try to make a good seed bed from it...

I guess I just grew up in a different time.

Nonetheless, I enjoy seeing the old tractors hooked up to the old plows and doing what they were made to do. I am still looking for an opportunity to put this combination into the dirt and see what I kind of good plowing job I can produce! Of course, it will be better when I get the cab off and the proper fenders (mud guards) in place. My farmer no-tills everything, and I proved a couple of years ago that moldboard plowing ahead of the large no-till planter just doesn't work out very well...

RE:Massey plows (ploughs)

RE:Massey plows (ploughs)

I too plowed at the Big Rock plowing match about 57-58 years ago. I never had the patience to plow at a crawl as the old timers who traveled so slow they could step off the tractor and adjust the plow and back on the tractor without loosing a step. I did alright, but nothing like the champs. I also plowed at a match at Plainfield, IL as I recall. I still enjoy plowing as much as any field activity.